For some reason last night, I didn't give you the link to Ricky's website - do have a look, as there are lots of photos and info to browse through. Ricky started his show by encouraging us to shout out whoo hoo, to show that we were enjoying ourselves. He explained that when he was in Dubai two years ago, he got everyone in the audience to write where they were from on a slip of paper. When he counted up afterwards, he found there were people from 35 countries, and he decided to name this his whoo hoo nation. There was a lot of laughter as he encouraged us to whoo hoo throughout the evening! He spoke of one of the defining moments of his life, when his home town of Wichita Falls, Texas was struck by a tornado on the 10th of April 1979 (and in one of those little coincidences, of course Tuesday was the 10th). He rushed home to find that his parents' house had been wrecked, but his parents were safe in the storm shelter. He then found his two dogs had survived under pieces of furniture. It didn't matter that his car had landed on the grand piano that he had been given for his 21st birthday ....... possessions can be replaced, but your loved ones can't. He isn't the only quilter in the family - his Dad quilts too! Although these days, sadly his Dad has lost his short term memory, and makes the same quilt pattern over and over, as that is in his long term memory - Ricky gives him fabrics grouped in different colourways, so they don't all look the same.
Ricky was born and raised in Texas, so it was surprising to learn that he now lives in Colorado ....... but he went on to say that if you look at an old map of America, you will see that Texas once covered part of what is now Colorado, so he still feels that he lives in Texas. He lives in the charming little town of La Veta (population just over 900!). He showed us photos of the views from his house - on three sides he has stunning mountains, and on the fourth side he looks out across a reservoir to the plains beyond. If I lived there, I would never get anything done, as I would spend my time enjoying the views!
A last mention about Tuesday night. When Ricky is in Scotland, he stays in Edinburgh with Margaret Boe, a stalwart of the Quilters' Guild, talented quilter and entertaining speaker. I knew Margaret some years ago, when I was in the Quilters Guild - we used to meet at committee meetings when we were both area reps - indeed Margaret once attended a committeee meeting in my house, when we couldn't meet at our usual venue. So I was delighted that she had come with Ricky, and I was able to have a chat with her and catch up on what she has been doing since I last saw her.
I don't think I have written so much without including a photo, so let's get on with my visit to Anne's shop yesterday and the two new projects I came home with. I spent an enjoyable few hours at the shop, chatting to the ladies who meet there on Wednesdays, blethering to customers, having lunch, drinking lots of tea. In these two photos you will see a man at the counter, busy cutting fabrics. This is Anne's husband, the long-suffering Mick, who now works in the shop most days.
The two women at the far end of the shop were choosing fabrics to make the stitchery quilt - they saw it draped over the end of the counter, and immediately decided to make their own! (that's Anne in the cream sweater with her back to the camera). So what was Mick busy cutting? These gorgeous fabrics ......
....... to make this wallhanging
I am also going to do another stitchery wallhanging ....... I know it is only April, but it's never to early to start on Christmas sewing!
For the moment I only have the fabric and thread for the stitcheries. I'll get the rest of the fabrics once they are done.
The thread is variegated, which gives a lovely effect - this is the first block that I will be stitching
Anne will be at The Festival of Quilts in Birmingham in August, so if you are going, do visit her stand and say hello ....... and of course buy lots of the lovely kits that she sells. She is also hoping to have her website up and running soon - I will let you know as soon as it's online.